Who can look after my miniature animals?
Discussion
I have an empty paddock in a rural location and I would like to keep miniature animals on it, of various types. The main thing holding me back is trying to find someone long term who can come in regularly to look after them, because I travel for work too often.
Where would I advertise and what would I call the job? I am not completely sure where to pitch it, on the spectrum from teenager who has her own horse, to president of London Zoo.
Where would I advertise and what would I call the job? I am not completely sure where to pitch it, on the spectrum from teenager who has her own horse, to president of London Zoo.
For the care of miniature animals surely you need look no further than http://www.hirelittlepeople.com/index.html
We're rural, but quite a few ' farm sitters ' around here. They tend to be self employed, around the same sort of business model as dog sitters, house sitters etc. If it's regular, you can find a good one who you trust and work out a deal/routine. Cost depends on whether you want them to live in or just visit and feed etc a couple of times a day.
I've done it a few times for my neighbours/ family members, don't take money for it as they can do me favours in return.
I've done it a few times for my neighbours/ family members, don't take money for it as they can do me favours in return.
Miniature farm animals?
Is this so they are super cute and adorable? As they wont be for long, they take just as much upkeep and medication as full size animals and one day you will need to kill them.
Also, if you cant look after them, dont get them, they are a lot of work, there is a reason farmers are up at 4am every morning.
I dont mean to be all doom and gloom, I dont know you or your circumstances, its just the miniature adorable craze annoys me, selective breeding, unnatural and normally end up in shelters/dead as the kind of people that want super cute instagramable mini animals dont like looking after them as their makeup and starbucks are more important
Is this so they are super cute and adorable? As they wont be for long, they take just as much upkeep and medication as full size animals and one day you will need to kill them.
Also, if you cant look after them, dont get them, they are a lot of work, there is a reason farmers are up at 4am every morning.
I dont mean to be all doom and gloom, I dont know you or your circumstances, its just the miniature adorable craze annoys me, selective breeding, unnatural and normally end up in shelters/dead as the kind of people that want super cute instagramable mini animals dont like looking after them as their makeup and starbucks are more important
sidekickdmr said:
Miniature farm animals?
Is this so they are super cute and adorable? As they wont be for long, they take just as much upkeep and medication as full size animals and one day you will need to kill them.
Also, if you cant look after them, dont get them, they are a lot of work, there is a reason farmers are up at 4am every morning.
I dont mean to be all doom and gloom, I dont know you or your circumstances, its just the miniature adorable craze annoys me, selective breeding, unnatural and normally end up in shelters/dead as the kind of people that want super cute instagramable mini animals dont like looking after them as their makeup and starbucks are more important
+1Is this so they are super cute and adorable? As they wont be for long, they take just as much upkeep and medication as full size animals and one day you will need to kill them.
Also, if you cant look after them, dont get them, they are a lot of work, there is a reason farmers are up at 4am every morning.
I dont mean to be all doom and gloom, I dont know you or your circumstances, its just the miniature adorable craze annoys me, selective breeding, unnatural and normally end up in shelters/dead as the kind of people that want super cute instagramable mini animals dont like looking after them as their makeup and starbucks are more important
We get lot's of people telling us they want an alpaca, until you explain they are herd animals and you need at least 3 and you tell them how much work is involved, then suddenly they start reconsidering. Don't forget even on Christmas day when it's pouring down with rain and you are wading through mud because they have churned up your paddock, they still need feeding and mucking out. Not trying to put you off but make sure you understand the reality, and expense, of keeping livestock. The reality isn't cute little animals prancing around looking pretty.
Alpacaman said:
sidekickdmr said:
Miniature farm animals?
Is this so they are super cute and adorable? As they wont be for long, they take just as much upkeep and medication as full size animals and one day you will need to kill them.
Also, if you cant look after them, dont get them, they are a lot of work, there is a reason farmers are up at 4am every morning.
I dont mean to be all doom and gloom, I dont know you or your circumstances, its just the miniature adorable craze annoys me, selective breeding, unnatural and normally end up in shelters/dead as the kind of people that want super cute instagramable mini animals dont like looking after them as their makeup and starbucks are more important
+1Is this so they are super cute and adorable? As they wont be for long, they take just as much upkeep and medication as full size animals and one day you will need to kill them.
Also, if you cant look after them, dont get them, they are a lot of work, there is a reason farmers are up at 4am every morning.
I dont mean to be all doom and gloom, I dont know you or your circumstances, its just the miniature adorable craze annoys me, selective breeding, unnatural and normally end up in shelters/dead as the kind of people that want super cute instagramable mini animals dont like looking after them as their makeup and starbucks are more important
We get lot's of people telling us they want an alpaca, until you explain they are herd animals and you need at least 3 and you tell them how much work is involved, then suddenly they start reconsidering. Don't forget even on Christmas day when it's pouring down with rain and you are wading through mud because they have churned up your paddock, they still need feeding and mucking out. Not trying to put you off but make sure you understand the reality, and expense, of keeping livestock. The reality isn't cute little animals prancing around looking pretty.
we stay on a small holding they are constantly working checking animals mucking out etc...,
gave me a reality check on having livestock it is a full time job to do it properly
A205GTI said:
Alpacaman said:
sidekickdmr said:
Miniature farm animals?
Is this so they are super cute and adorable? As they wont be for long, they take just as much upkeep and medication as full size animals and one day you will need to kill them.
Also, if you cant look after them, dont get them, they are a lot of work, there is a reason farmers are up at 4am every morning.
I dont mean to be all doom and gloom, I dont know you or your circumstances, its just the miniature adorable craze annoys me, selective breeding, unnatural and normally end up in shelters/dead as the kind of people that want super cute instagramable mini animals dont like looking after them as their makeup and starbucks are more important
+1Is this so they are super cute and adorable? As they wont be for long, they take just as much upkeep and medication as full size animals and one day you will need to kill them.
Also, if you cant look after them, dont get them, they are a lot of work, there is a reason farmers are up at 4am every morning.
I dont mean to be all doom and gloom, I dont know you or your circumstances, its just the miniature adorable craze annoys me, selective breeding, unnatural and normally end up in shelters/dead as the kind of people that want super cute instagramable mini animals dont like looking after them as their makeup and starbucks are more important
We get lot's of people telling us they want an alpaca, until you explain they are herd animals and you need at least 3 and you tell them how much work is involved, then suddenly they start reconsidering. Don't forget even on Christmas day when it's pouring down with rain and you are wading through mud because they have churned up your paddock, they still need feeding and mucking out. Not trying to put you off but make sure you understand the reality, and expense, of keeping livestock. The reality isn't cute little animals prancing around looking pretty.
we stay on a small holding they are constantly working checking animals mucking out etc...,
gave me a reality check on having livestock it is a full time job to do it properly
As for the selective breeding - I don't mind that if it hasn't caused health/pain problems to the animals.
If you do get help in, what amount of land do you have available ? This will help to say the amount and the stock levels you can keep.
For example, you would work on one cow to one acre, but if you bought a short legged dexter cow you could possible have two per acre if your land was good quality.
Sheep are your best bet IMO. You can get 6 to 8 sheep an acre as a rule but more native breeds are much smaller and can most likely double that amount to an acre. If you manage the land well you should be ok.
Also make sure you have adequate fencing and also public liability insurance.
For example, you would work on one cow to one acre, but if you bought a short legged dexter cow you could possible have two per acre if your land was good quality.
Sheep are your best bet IMO. You can get 6 to 8 sheep an acre as a rule but more native breeds are much smaller and can most likely double that amount to an acre. If you manage the land well you should be ok.
Also make sure you have adequate fencing and also public liability insurance.
I assume you have actually done a lot more research than you are letting on in your post.
A paddock doesn't sound huge, so it will really limit how many animals you could have and what type. The type of vegetation that grows could matter, how exposed it is, whether you would need to rotate animals using it. Worming the animals correctly plus day to day costs of care (Inc veterinary care).
If you have and are still up for it then good luck. Still not sure what you mean by miniature animals though unless you are referring to Shetland Ponies.
And you would definitely want some one with decent experience working in farming or smallholding, not as you described a teenager with a pony. It is a big responsibility and a lot of work.
A paddock doesn't sound huge, so it will really limit how many animals you could have and what type. The type of vegetation that grows could matter, how exposed it is, whether you would need to rotate animals using it. Worming the animals correctly plus day to day costs of care (Inc veterinary care).
If you have and are still up for it then good luck. Still not sure what you mean by miniature animals though unless you are referring to Shetland Ponies.
And you would definitely want some one with decent experience working in farming or smallholding, not as you described a teenager with a pony. It is a big responsibility and a lot of work.
Edited by bexVN on Wednesday 3rd October 20:44
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